About Jainism

[Slog]

Do people know any Jains here? Are they considered part of Hinduism by Hindus? I was reading on wiki and similar places were referenced in the history.

Can someone give a cliff notes. I would like to understand more

 

[JaDed]

They are not Hindus , It's the only religion whose most hardcore followers are even more non violent than the average follower, not filtering water so they don't want to kill bacteria, brooming as walking so as to kill no insect.

Jain diet is even more strict than vegetarians, everything is there in wikipedia, I remember having an argument with Pakistani poster and the reply was Jainism don't matter as they will never expand their religion because no conquests or something.

 

[sweep_shot]

I don't think I have ever met a Jain person.

 

[Slog]

They are not Hindus , It's the only religion whose most hardcore followers are even more non violent than the average follower, not filtering water so they don't want to kill bacteria, brooming as walking so as to kill no insect.

Jain diet is even more strict than vegetarians, everything is there in wikipedia, I remember having an argument with Pakistani poster and the reply was Jainism don't matter as they will never expand their religion because no conquests or something.

Yea they don’t even eat potatoes.

Like what can they eat

 

[TSA321]

My mum has some Jain friends from childhood, and when they went to her house apparently they wouldn't even drink water from her tap because they're super strict vegetarians and my mums family are obviously meat eaters. Not sure if most of them are this strict.

 

[CanadianG00se]

Yea they don’t even eat potatoes.

Like what can they eat

I had a neighbours in India who were Jains. As per their belief they don’t eat any root vegetables such as potato, beet, ginger& garlic etc. They are branch of Hinduism and mostly worship Krishna(8th Avatar of Vishnu), and follow their religion very rigorously. In general very polite, and quite humble.

 

[aloo paratha]

I had a friend who was Jain.

 

[Kroll]

I understand the Swastika is the main symbol for Jainism. I believe its also the oldest religion in India, even more ancient than Hinduism?

 

[big_gamer007]

Pretty cool people and probably they are the most educated community in India.. Good folks.

 

[JaDed]

I had a neighbours in India who were Jains. As per their belief they don’t eat any root vegetables such as potato, beet, ginger& garlic etc. They are branch of Hinduism and mostly worship Krishna(8th Avatar of Vishnu), and follow their religion very rigorously. In general very polite, and quite humble.

They gave you a very simple explanation of Krishna, they don't worship Krishna the way you are thinking.
Also there are two sects within Jains Digambara (meaning sky clad) sect and the Svetambara (meaning white clad) sect and it changes, they are no offshoot of Hinduism.

 

[CanadianG00se]

They gave you a very simple explanation of Krishna, they don't worship Krishna the way you are thinking.
Also there are two sects within Jains Digambara (meaning sky clad) sect and the Svetambara (meaning white clad) sect and it changes, they are no offshoot of Hinduism.

To be fair, I never went in details nor they ever shared. I saw pictures of Krishna in their house and at times they spoke of it briefly. But what you say is true then, I really had wrong impression about their belief all these years. I always had an impression that they were branch of Hinduism. I guess very similar to us, we are branch of Muslims but way different than majority( specially sunni muslims)

Thanks for correction.

 

[Slog]

They gave you a very simple explanation of Krishna, they don't worship Krishna the way you are thinking.
Also there are two sects within Jains Digambara (meaning sky clad) sect and the Svetambara (meaning white clad) sect and it changes, they are no offshoot of Hinduism.

im a bit confused.

do they have same stories as the hindus? like ramayana and mahabhartha wali? characters seem to be same

 

[Slog]

Pretty cool people and probably they are the most educated community in India.. Good folks.

theres fewer than 4mm of them tho

i guess you can spend whole life in india and not meet them

 

[JaDed]

im a bit confused.

do they have same stories as the hindus? like ramayana and mahabhartha wali? characters seem to be same

What Stories? Are you talking about Ramayana and Mahabharata?

No.. by their scriptures they don't but their followers can celebrate Diwali or go to Hindu Temples, similar how Hindus might go to Gurudwaras or Churches,Dargahs..

 

[JaDed]

theres fewer than 4mm of them tho

i guess you can spend whole life in india and not meet them

Yes but because they are affluent and mostly in urban cities, there presence is very visible and I find most of them pro BJP (atleast my friends).

 

[cric_man]

Yes but because they are affluent and mostly in urban cities, there presence is very visible and I find most of them pro BJP (atleast my friends).

Isn't that kind of contradictory. being non violent and being pro extremist party?

 

[JaDed]

Isn't that kind of contradictory. being non violent and being pro extremist party?

BJP is also pro business party and has some bias towards Jains...

 

[pillionrider]

There is a version of history that some, like [MENTION=76058]cricketjoshila[/MENTION], get majorly triggered about. And that involves the modern version of Hinduism pushing Jainism and Buddhism out and including several of their guiding principles into Hinduism. This becomes more complex when Hinduism cites the Vedas as their primary source thereby blurring the chronology of its evolution into its current version.

BJP is also pro business party and has some bias towards Jains...

Chronology reminds me.

Like Shri Amit Shah

 

[jeetu]

I have Jain relatives in my family. Most of the Jains i know prefer business to jobs. I have never met anyone who follows extreme Jainism. But most household are strict vegetarian. Many household avoid onion and garlic in food. However the current generation doesn't care about these restrictions. Jains are mostly devoted to Lord Mahavir.

 

[jeetu]

BJP is also pro business party and has some bias towards Jains...

Marriages between Hindu business community and Jains are extremely common.

 

[Babu Bhaiya]

I have lived in Rajasthan for 6 years and probably Rajasthan has most number of Jains in India. I have many close Jain friends.

They participate in all Hindu festivals and even take part in prayers and worships so they can be mistaken for a being a branch of Hinduism.

But they have their own set of beliefs. Very different food habits. Jains who are strict to their beliefs won't even have food after sunset.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

im a bit confused.

do they have same stories as the hindus? like ramayana and mahabhartha wali? characters seem to be same

Historically, there were Jaina and Buddhist versions of the Ramayana and Mahabharata in India as well. From what I understand , jaina texts do not see Ram as a deity but merely a man who was the embodiment of what is noble and just.

Hinduism has actually borrowed many concepts from Jainism like ahimsa (non violence etc.) and over the millennia, Jains have adopted many Hindu rituals etc. but strictly speaking Jains are not hindus.

The one common thread among all branches of Hinduism is that the authority of the Vedas is accepted (degree of acceptance varies) but Jainism, Buddhism ,Carvakas(rational materialists), Ajivikas etc. reject the authority of the Vedas so they were always considered to be outside the field of Hinduism.

 

[big_gamer007]

theres fewer than 4mm of them tho

i guess you can spend whole life in india and not meet them

Yea probably in villages and smaller towns people haven't met them.

 

[Nadeemp]

The control the diamond trade in Belgium . Beat the jews at their own game.

 

[Slog]

I have Jain relatives in my family. Most of the Jains i know prefer business to jobs. I have never met anyone who follows extreme Jainism. But most household are strict vegetarian. Many household avoid onion and garlic in food. However the current generation doesn't care about these restrictions. Jains are mostly devoted to Lord Mahavir.

My friend was telling his uncle and aunt took some oath where they let go of all worldly things and relations. Now theh go to ashrams and whatnot and don’t even recognise family members as family members. Rather just as any other individual. Also technically they aren’t married now as per the oath

 

[Slog]

Is Jainism older than Hinduism?

 

[IndoorCricket]

Hinduism is a very recent term. What you are referring to is Sanatana Dharma (Eternal Dharma). Jains share the same ideology of souls, god, liberation, karma, rituals and ceremonies too. They do diverge in defining what a soul is. Hinduism is oldest because of the Vedas and Upanishads which are the oldest spiritual texts in existence dating back to 1500 BC but some consider Jainism to be oldest because of its lineage. The first Jain spiritual teacher is dated back to the king of Ayodhya. He is believed to have born 592.704 x 10 power 18 years ago.